Umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired by MLB for sharing sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball, the league announced Monday.

Hoberg also intentionally deleted messages central to MLB’s probe into his conduct, the league said.

An appeal process conducted by a neutral factfinder in accordance with MLB’s collective bargaining agreement and the MLB Umpires Association upheld commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to terminate Hoberg’s employment. Hoberg is eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than the start of 2026 spring training.

The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” Manfred said in a statement. “An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way.